Domingo Reyes, who became a U.S. Citizen on July 4, 2023, will be a first-time poll worker in Lowell. Reyes, who has helped with setting up and taking down polling locations in the past, said he was proud to serve his country as a poll worker.
As a recent U.S. citizen, Reyes said he was excited to cast a ballot in his first presidential election.
“It feels good so we can make the right decision,” Reyes said.
Amid an atmosphere buzzing with excitement and anxiety, Reyes and his wife Susan Gonzalez were just some of the dozens of poll workers picking up polling location materials and finishing training at the Lake County Government Center Saturday.
Gonzalez will be an inspector at the same Lowell polling location. As a poll worker, Reyes will help voters use the polling machines and answer their questions, Gonzalez said. As inspector, Gonzalez said she ensures everything is moving smoothly, completes the paperwork and reminds voters in line to have their driver’s license ready to keep the sign-in process moving.
Gonzalez said she’s worked as a poll worker for about eight years, but this election has left her feeling more nervous given the atmosphere around vice president and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and former Republican president Donald Trump.
Gonzalez said working as a Mexican American in a largely Republican district has felt nerve-wracking this election cycle. But, having Reyes there with her gives her comfort, she said.
“I’m nervous, but he’ll be there with me,” Reyes said.
Jim Swain, a mechanic, was training poll workers Saturday on how to use the voting machines. On election day, Swain said he and the other mechanics, 34 total, are spread out in the county ready to respond to calls with potential issues with the polling machines, of which there are about 1,100.
The most common calls, Swain said, result in making sure the polling machine is properly plugged in or the inspector is properly turning the machine on. If a machine displays a “fatal error” message, which means the machine has shut down with an issue, Swain said two mechanics, one Democrat and one Republican, pick up the machine and bring a new one to replace it.
The two mechanics then take the “fatal error” machine back to the Lake County Government Center to be locked away and its votes taken from the hard drive, Swain said.
Each voting machine has two hard drives and a paper ballot tabulation, so even if a machine breaks down on election day the votes tabulated until that point will be recorded, Swain said.
“We can’t get inside the machine, so if it’s a fatal error we swap out the machine,” Swain said.
Robert Guevarra, an inspector in East Chicago, said he’s worked elections for about 20 years. As inspector, Guevarra said it’s important to keep the line moving as smoothly as possible, because any “hiccups” in the process usually causes frustration down the line.
For the most part, everything goes smoothly,” Guevarra said. “As long as you have a calm demeanor, they will take it in stride.”
Guevarra said Harris was a boost for the Democratic party. But, Guevarra said Trump still has many supporters, which likely stems from them not wanting to vote for a woman.
“It’s that machismo,” Guevarra said. “I’m not looking at sex but at their views.”
Teresa Spann, an inspector in Gary, said she’s worked the polls for about 15 years. Spann said she’s enjoyed being a part of the election process and knowing what the results of the precinct are on election night.
Spann said she’s excited for election day and that this presidential election “is a big one.” Spann said she’s also curious to see how many people vote on election day because early in-person voting has been high this election cycle.
“The presidential election is always a big one. But, this one might be different because the early voting numbers are high,” Spann said.
